Cade Smith enjoyed a wonderful rookie season in the dominant @CleGuardians bullpen.
The AL Rookie of the Year finalist lands as The Shredder's #2 relief pitcher on the #Top10RightNow.
Velocity is THE key driver of performance for a vast majority of pitchers. Without it, stuff plays down. Hitters are too good, and umpire strike zones are too accurate these days to simply “locate” and get outs.
It’s increasingly apparent that good stuff in the zone is the way to compete at the highest level in modern baseball.
There are obviously other important skills to have as a pitcher, but they have to be the elite of the elite to compete without velocity.
Ability to manage workload, adequate preparation for the season BEFORE Spring Training, and physical development are the ways to mitigate injury risk. Unless the game were to shift away from incentivizing velocity, higher injury risk will remain.
Very surprised Cade Smith didn't finish in the Top 3 for AL ROY.
74 appearances (8th most in MLB)
1.91 ERA
1 HR allowed in 75.1 IP in the regular season
103 strikeouts (tied for third among MLB relievers) and 17 walks
WOW: Jordan Love's has 5 games this year with 3+ Pass TD and no interceptions.
He joins Lamar Jackson & Patrick Mahomes as the only QBs to do it at age 25 or younger.
(H/T @doug_clawson)
Great to see #Guardians LHP relief prospect Andrew Misiaszek throwing again. Misiaszek underwent TJ surgery back on 6/14/23. He missed the entire 2023 season. He was coming off a tremendous year in 2022 between Akron & Columbus.
- 61.2(IP) 49H 16R 14ER 25BB 90SO 2.04 ERA
#ForTheLand
𝐁𝐢𝐠 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐠𝐮𝐞 𝐃𝐮𝐤𝐞.
@nprobertson has gotten the call up to the Majors and will join the @Dodgers in Cincinnati tonight!
📰 | https://t.co/yOs4NnJz8k
#GoDukes
Peyton Battenfield allowed three runs -- two earned -- across his first two starts with the @CleGuardians.
He's No. 9 on our Rookie Hot List for April: https://t.co/qPfzemX4hQ